Wire transfers as evidence of a bonafide marriage

[rahill 28]

So I have heard many on this forum suggest that providing a record of money transfers (like western union) can serve (along w/ other things) as evidence of a bonafide marriage and that you should produce this for you application or for the interview. However, couldn't this be detrimental? Like could it not look bad if I'm sending money once a month to my spouse in Ethiopia because it plays into the assumption that he is conning me for a visa? What are your thoughts on this?

For the record, I did send him some money last year while I was in the US and I did submit a record of these wire transfers in our application and now I'm sort of second guessing that. Maybe the folks that suggested this don't have spouses from countries where people are suspicious that everyone is cheating US citizens into marrying them for visa....I'd love to hear your thoughts, VJers.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

It really depends on a few things.

How frequent were you sending money?

How much money were you sending each time?

How long have you been sending money?

Each country is different on the views of sending money and using it as proof of ongoing relationship. Some may find it to really show support and relationship, and some will view it as a negative.

Perhaps some other Ethiopia members can chime in and give you more info on if they also submitted this type of evidence.

Edited November 8, 2016 by Ben&Zian

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Some previous threads you can read:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/186341-is-western-union-the-only-way-accepted/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/355656-sending-money-from-africa-to-usa-to-my-wife/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/351007-whether-to-include-western-union-receipts-in-evidence-of-relationship/

I think there's a bit of difference between K1 and CR1. If you are married it may not be so bad to send some. It's a debatable topic. Some think its good evidence, others think it looks bad.

[rahill 28]

Some previous threads you can read:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/186341-is-western-union-the-only-way-accepted/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/355656-sending-money-from-africa-to-usa-to-my-wife/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/351007-whether-to-include-western-union-receipts-in-evidence-of-relationship/

I think there's a bit of difference between K1 and CR1. If you are married it may not be so bad to send some. It's a debatable topic. Some think its good evidence, others think it looks bad.

Well that just confuses me more. We are married and have been since July but when I sent him money were only engaged. It's not huge sums and was mostly so that he could get to the capital city and do the medical exam, have his birth certificate authenticated, get a police certificate etc etc...

[rahill 28]

It really depends on a few things.

How frequent were you sending money?

How much money were you sending each time?

How long have you been sending money?

Each country is different on the views of sending money and using it as proof of ongoing relationship. Some may find it to really show support and relationship, and some will view it as a negative.

Perhaps some other Ethiopia members can chime in and give you more info on if they also submitted this type of evidence.

Not very frequently. I sent him different sums. $100 here, $80 there etc. But, I'm going back to US soon (I'm currently in Ethiopia) and I'm probably going to send some amount of support monthly because he is taking care of my sick father in law full time right now. I only sent him money throughout a period of 4 months or so and it was when we were engaged, before our marriage. The difference in opinion on all of this is very confusing. I've already included the wire transfers done during our engagement period...maybe its best to just leave out any additional wire transfers in the absence of any definitive knowledge as to whether this is good or bad.